The Importance Of Disclosure Of Transgender Identity

Characteristics such as these mentioned can be seen in toys determining so much about a toys identity and what they represent. Studies have shown that these qualities also have an immense effect on what audience or gender group interacts with the toys along with the overall marketing of toys. A partnered experiment run by the departments of psychology at The University of Cambridge and The University of Hong Kong observed toddlers playing with two gender-typical toys, once in gender-typical colors and once in gender typical colors (Wong and Hines). These assessments occurred twice, for four minute periods, at two different age groups that included twenty to forty months of age and twenty-six to forty-seven months of age (Wong and Hines). After, results between sex and toy choice along with sex and color were collected. It was found that “Boys played more with the train than girls did and girls played more with the doll and with pink toys than boys did” (Wong and Hines). At both time collections, boys and girls combined played more with the gender-atypical toy when its color was typical for their sex than when it was not (Wong and Hines). After reviewing the results, it is suggested that once children develop gender-typical color preferences, they begin to influence their toy preferences, especially those for gender-atypical toys and

The toy section at Target had many clear differences in the toys for boys and the toys for girls. The types of toys that were out on the shelves were different, but also the way the toys were presented were different. Girls toys mainly consisted of stuffed animals, dress up clothes, babies and dolls including Bratz, Barbies and fairies. The primary colors of all these toys consisted of different shades of purple, pink, and white. There were bits of blue and yellow but it seemed that all the colors stood out and had a type of feminine aspect to them. Besides color, the girl’s toys were often soft and fuzzy or

The Barbie doll has been a popular play toy for young girls since the late 1950s. Although the Barbie doll seem like an innocent toy, it has had an effect on little girls’ body images. Many studies have shown an association between young girls playing with Barbies and eating disorders. Even grown women want to resemble Barbie so badly that they start to do surgery on their bodies which can be very dangerous. This has led to the term, Barbie Syndrome, which refers to “the drive, often of adolescent girls, to attain impossible standards of beauty, projected by toys—e.g., Mattel’s Barbie Doll—and the media, resulting in failure and frustration, issues related to body

Young girls playing with Bratz dolls is not an ideal situation because the doll teaches them how to make themselves look more sexualized. This plastic doll is only six inches in length, much shorter then it’s competitor Barbie, but it still holds much more impact on a child. With very voluminous hair and outrageous makeup such as eyeshadow, lipstick, and mascara, little girls are being exposed to something that they should not have to experience until they are in their teens. The dolls lead young girls to think

Motz’s asserts that the dolls give young girls the power the essentially be anything they wanted to be though they “reflect traditional, outdated roles for women”. The Barbie doll gives young women the idea that life can be spent with leisure without much effort. Considering the dolls have a different outfit for every task/event and portray a life of luxury, even while working or going to school. Motz’s says that the dolls are a symbol for modern American success which emphasizes “wealth, beauty, popularity and leisure”. The message these dolls convey negatively impact the identities of American women.

What was that one doll every little girl just had to have growing up? What doll made little girls obsess with perfection? What doll set the unrealistic standards for girls starting at ages three or four? Barbie is a children’s toy that was first introduced to the market in 1959. Barbie was the perfect role model for all girls. She was perfectly skinny, had a perfect boyfriend and family, perfect hair, perfect house, perfect everything, but her existence is completely ironic. Although Mattel, creator of Barbie, attempts to make Barbie absolute perfection, all her imperfect buyers are wondering why they cannot look like the beautiful doll. She is responsible for the diminishing young girls’ self-confidence. Lisa Belkin believes girls in today’s society cannot comprehend what true beauty is because they were so entranced with the idea of Barbie in her online article “Banning Barbie.” Barbie should be pulled off the shelves immediately. Barbie’s looks, actions, and lust for materialistic objects are the blame for the degeneration of assurance in young girls and women.

Since the emergence of the Barbie doll in 1959, Barbie has been a populous choice among young children, and more specifically young girls because of its monopolization of the toy market. Barbie is a doll that has been outwardly controversial and debated upon for years and most likely will be for many years to come. The idea of the Barbie doll is a toy for which young girls model themselves after and aspire to be like when they mature and grow up. DuCille states, “more than simple instruments of pleasure and amusement, toys and games play crucial roles in helping children determine what is valuable in and around

Unfortunately, the packing and the products conveyed the tone and pressure associated with being a female in our culture. For example, a display of a vibrant pink light up vanity set dressed a corner of the isle. It was accompanied by a matching brush set, pretend curling iron, blow dryer and a few curling rollers. Sold separately, I smiled as I found scented perfume. This model was aligned with the standards place on young girls to be dainty and pretty and to entertain the importance of physical appearance. It applauded not too far from the vanity display I came across kitchen sets along with food pieces to complete the set. I was intrigued by life size brooms and dust pans and matching aprons. I gasped as I set my eyes on an ironing board and iron set. I was taken back for a second, because I refused to buy into my own thought that the toys were an implication of what society views as female roles, but the message was overwhelming and significant. Babies dolls, swing sets, play pens, bottles, diapers all set the stage for the image of the idea of a mother tending to her child. Is this a representation of a women’s worth? Although, knew the answer I asked myself “are there any toys that entertain the role of a

Gender roles in toys are overwhelmingly obvious. The breakdown has not changed in so many years that we all comply with and follow without question. Taking a trip to the local Toys R Us store showed me just how obvious the line was drawn for the sexes, showing a specific division of the two. The stores layout clearly establishes the line between girl’s toys and boys toys. There are very few isles that will intermingle within the sexes. For this project I selected the following age groups; infant, preschool and school age with a focus on girls toys.

Some believe children are often too young to pick up on messages that toys send regarding gender, however; when a child is constantly surrounded by pink labels and blue labels, they begin to associate what is “wrong” for them to play with and what is “right” to play with depending on their sex. From Barbie dolls, to hot wheels, play work bench sets, to pink play kitchen sets,

In a lot of places around the world more and more people are coming out as “Transgender.” The term transgender means that the person’s gender identity does not correspond with the gender they were assigned as having at birth. From personally having a transgender boyfriend I have since realized that these people experience a lot of discrimination in and from society. Many people simply just do not understand what the term transgender means and they see it as someone just “wants to be a man” or “wants to be a woman.” While there may be people who present it this way, it is more so that the individual just “feels” different, and “feels” as if they are “in the wrong body.” Some people experience this feeling at a young age as my boyfriend did in his elementary age. We live in a world who put these people down for being who they truly are, and no human being wants or needs that.

Gender socialization often begins early once parents are shown the sex of their child; from then on, baby showers are planned according to gender “appropriate” colors, which are often pink for girls and blue for boys. Even differences in how children are spoke to can be picked up easily in Western cultures. Girls are called pretty and sweet, whereas boys are handsome and strong. Ultimately, the way children learn to identify with their gender culture is in part due to not only family and friends, media, schools, and religion, but also from the toys that may inexplicitly advertise gender expectations. Gender-typed toys may be bought for children as a way for parents to encourage and reinforce gender-appropriate behaviors. However, recent debates have engulfed toy manufacturers and major retailers, which has brought about changes in toy design and marketing in an effort to make reflect more realistic and gender neutral options.

My transgender identity influences my life in ways that I would have never imagined. As a five-year old entering kindergarten, I knew that I was “different”. I use that term very loosely because everybody is different in their own way. However, my “different” is not something I can hide. Teachers, parents, and students alike would ask the infamous question I became so used to in my life, “Are you a boy or a girl?”.

Transgender people are often fearful about letting others know that they have gender dysphoria, or may be

Every day girls worldwide wake up, apply their makeup, wear fancy expensive clothing, wear high heels, and wear skintight clothing. Girls do this every morning because they have to. Society expects them to. Even young girls are encouraged to look a certain way. As time goes on it appears that younger and younger kids are now sporting outfits that reflect the current adult trends. In my personal experience I have witnessed young teen girls that have gone through so much trouble that they resemble a young woman; despite the fact that they have barely touched puberty. Children are now being included in the social norms and expectations of women at an age that is not safe for their self-esteem. Young girls are now self-conscious about themselves because of what others think. These girls are being taught that they should look a certain way to fit in or to be popular. Novelist Marge Piercy has contributed her part in this topic by bringing to light a significant social issue that focuses on the expectations of the typical girl through her short poem Barbie Doll. This poem introduces a typical young girlchild who is victim to the tortures of a girl who does not fit in with society. The girlchild is given the same toys as everyone else. The toy is a doll a plastic Barbie doll with pitch perfect hair and a slender body. Piercy is arguing how nearly every girl will receive the same toy and that same toy will give off the same message to all children, boy or girl. That message is that